Terminal assembly



Sept. 27,1938. HCATRON A 2,131,581

' TERMINAL ASSEMBLYL Fi led Jan. 7,1 19 55 f V I W/hmmrw'. Y I

structure, to provide a terminal assembly. having 'Referringfnow indetail to Figure we disclose f 65 modified form of the invention; Y thesurface thereof, and projecting into the o'p'en'f- I Patented Septi 27,1 938 I I I I ,v v,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE a g ma 3' t 1 I TERMINAL ASSEMBLY Haroldcafi'on, Ralph L. Dashner, "and Marion Morris, Logansport, Ind.,assignors to R-B-M a Manufacturing ,Co., Logansport, 11111., acorporation of Indiana I c t- [Am e-stun January 7,1935, Serial No. 620

6 Claims; (01,178-328) This invention relates to terminal assemblies, 1Figure 3 is an elevationalliviewof the strucand is more particularlydirected to assemblies of ture shown in Figure 2 n I the type commonlyknown as terminal plug mm Figure 4 is a detailed perspective view of thenectors. 1 plug end of ,onez-form eflead wire used with the Suchterminal assemblies are employed for conterminal assembly; andg a,necting electrical conductors or lead wires -to Figure 5 is aperspective view, partly in section, switch contacts, terminal plates,and similar elecof a terminalassembly corresponding to that "of tricalcontacting or. connectingstructures. We Figurepl', showing a leadwire inconnected posihave found that it is essential, -in this'typeof tion, a i

means 'for receiving a wire lead and,capable of a. terminal plate orswitch closure .member,wineflecting positive mechanical and electricalcondicated generally at 5, which preferably is formed tact therewith.Further, we have found that the of insulation or the 1ike,althoughit.isto, be underterminal assemblyshould be of such construction stoodthatthe'plate may be formed'of metal if dey 16 that it may receive,within reasonable limits, sired. Mounted-upon the plateorinsulatingsupvarious sizes and stylesof wire leads. porting member 5is a. terminal assernbly com- The present invention provides "a terminalasprising aspring member 6 of generallyL-sha'pe, sembly havingthesedistinctly advantageous charhaving the base portion I, thereof lyingupon the acteristics. In addition, the present assembly is uppersurface. of the plate 5, and provided with I 2 of relatively simpledesign, being-formed entirely an enlargedend-portion adapted to receivesuit-v 20 from metal stampings' that are capable of able securing meansfor mounting it in flxedposieconomical production and assembly. I tionupon the base 5. v 1

As a further object of the present invention, we Mounted in superposedrelationupon the base 1 provide a terminal assembly of small size, whichof the'springportion 6 of the terminal assembly, can be readily mountedin position upon a terwhich is preferably formed of spring bronzeor 25minal plate'or'the like. This permits themountthelike, is a framemember-8 having a base por ing of a plurality .of, separate orindependent tion-g9 of the same general configuration as the terminalsupon a terminal plate within a limited base I, of the springt, thevbases 1 and 9 being space, to provide a plurality of separate switchprovided with spaced openings through which a 1 39 contacts or the likeupon a single plate member. pair of rivet members Ill are adapted toextend to Another object of the present invention resides secure themembers 6 and 8 in fixednonrrotative in the provision of a structurewherein the-lead position upon the base 5 of the-assembly. wire islocked in fixed position within the .as- The frame member 8 is providedwiths-asemi- I sembly, and yet may be readily withdrawn therecylindrical or rounded portion ll! formed 'interfrom when the wire is tobe disconnected from mediate the ends of the vertical portion thereof,

the terminal. v i and which extends outwardly away from the plane Astill further advantage secured by our inof the member 6. At itsupperend, theframe vention is that the lead is automatically secured member 8is, provided with an extending tongue r in connected position merely bythe insertion .of pQrflon 3 which projects normally, fr m the v 40 theterminal Plug and of lead Wire the surface of the member 8 in adirectionoppositew u assembly thus facilitating the connection 9 the to theportion llthereof, and which is adaptedto" lead to the terminal 0 Switchproject through'a longitudinallyektendingslot ll other and advantages ofour m i formed in the vertical portion of thespring mem- I will appearmore fully from the following dFtaued berG. Preferably, the tongue I3 isprovided with description, which, taken in conjunction withhtheoppositely extending ear pdmons '5 for locking, 40 accompanying drawingWm disclose to t 056 the end of the member 8 against lateral movementskilled in the art the particular construction and operation of apreferred form' of the present inaway from th frame b P m re ventionbeing a limited amount of movement therebetween;

I to accommodate longitudinal sliding movement of n the drawing. a a

Figure 1 is a perspective view of one form of the member 6 with respectto the frame member B, terminal assembly provided by our invention; h3 mn}??? 6 81 0 p q df d, ntermediate Figure2 is an enlarged perspectiveview; with a the en o th vertically e t s pq t nther portion of thestructure broken away, showing a 0f, w tha-r sed bOSS P l S uck out.from ing l1 formed between the members 6 and 8 by the rounded portion l2of the member 8.

Referring now to Figure 4, we provide a conductor 20 having the centralconductor wire 22 therein, from which the insulation has been strippedback rearwardly from the end of the wire. Mounted over the bared portionof the conductor 20, we provide a plug terminal member indicatedgenerally at 23, comprising 'a tapered end portion 24, a pair ofcylindrical portions 25 of substantially the same diameter and spacedapart by an intermediate annular groove 26, and an enlarged cylindricalportion 21 forming, with the rear cylindrical portion 25, an annularshoulder 28 therebetween.

Upon the insertion of the end 24 of the conf ductor or leadwire 28 intothe opening I! of the terminal assembly, the tapered surface serves toforce the spring member 6 outwardly away from the rounded portion l2 ofthe member 8. This movement is further augmented by the engagement ofthe tapered surface'24 with the boss I6 of the member 6, whereby themember 6 is sprung away from the member 8 a distance sufficient toaccommodate the passage of the sleeve" portion 25 of the plug 23 intothe opening l1. Upon continuedinsertion of the conductor 20, thenormally'extending shoulder 28 passes into'abutting engagement with thedefining edges ofthe members 8 and 6, limiting further inward movementof the lead wire. At this time the annular groove 26 is positioned .overand receives the boss portion l6,whereby the conductor is locked againstaccidental withdrawal or displacement from the terminal assembly. 1 r

It will thus be apparent that merely by inserting the conductor 2i)inwardly of the opening I! between the members 8i and 6, wiping contactis effected-between the internal surface of the rounded portion l2 ofthe member- 8 and the surfaces 24 and 25 of the conductor. 'This servesto provide a clean, bright and, effective electrical contact of lowresistance between the terminal assembly and the conductor, andastheshoulder 28 moves into abutting. engagement with the lateraledgesof the terminal assembly, provides for positioning of the surfaces 25 inproper contacting engagement with the rounded portion l2 of the framemember 8, and positions the conmovement thereof with respect to thetongue I3,-

it being guided for movement thereon in orderto maintain the terminalassembly in proper alignment during insertion and withdrawal of theconductor.

Referringnow to Figure 2, in which is disclosed a modified type' ofterminal, this terminal is adapted to be mounted upon. abase-correspending to the base 5 of Figure 1, and comprises a planarframe member 32 lying upon the upper surface of the base 38 and providedwith an integral tongue 33 extending downwardly into a suitable recess34 formed in the base to key the member 32fagainst rotation with respectto the base. A spring member 35, preferably formed of spring bronze orthe like, is adapted to be mounted in superposed position over themember 32- by meansof a rivet 36 extending through the base portion 31of the spring member 35 and through the base member 32, whereby themembers 32 and 35 are fixed in position upon the base 30. The springmember 35, at its opposite .end, is provided with alongitudinal slot 38,which is adapted to receive the normally extending tongue 39 formed atthe outer end of the base member 32,'which tongue is provided withlaterallyiofi'set extending ear portions 40 for keying the member 35 tothe base 32 to prevent upward "displacement of the member 35 withrespect thereto. r h r The member 35 has an outwardly rovnded portion42, corresponding to the portion l2 of the member 8, which'is adapted toform, with the member32, an opening 43 into which the conductor may beinserted. The member 32 is providedwith a raised boss portion 44,corresponding to the raised portion l6 of themember 6,

which preferably comprises two enlarged hemispherical portions joined byan intermediate raised connecting'portion of smaller diameter,as-indicated at 45. l j

The mode of connecting the conductor 20 to the terminal assembly shownin Figure 2 is substantially; the same as described in connection withFigure 1, the'endportion 24 of the plug end 23 of the conductor 20,beinginserted into the opening 43, and forcing the-spring member 35outwardly away from the base member 32 a sufficient distance so thatthe'portio'n 25 of the plug 23 may be-passed into the space between themembers 32 and 35. This disposes the annular groove 26 0f the plug" 23'directly over the reduced portion 4501 the raised boss 44, wherebythelconductor'is locked inposition against accidental withdrawal fromthe terminal assembly. The shoulder 28 limitsfurthertinward movement ofthe plug 23 in the samemanner as de scribed in connection with Figure'1. 'It should be noted, in this embodiment of the invention, that therivet-member. 36, which se cures the members 32 and 35 maxed. positionupon the base 30, is provided, upon the lower surface of the-base, witha contact surface portion 46. which, if desired, mayform a switchcontact terminal adapted to be engaged by the movable arm of suitableswitch operating mechanism, or. whichmay comprise a fixed terminal towhich is secured asuitable switch contact assembly, such as a springfinger or the like. If desired, the contactportion 46 of the rivet 36may be disposed in a recessed portion of the lower surface of theibase30, whereby it lies in the plane of this surface, so that no projectionoutwardly of the surface is provided, whereby the switcharm or similarcontacting mechanis'mwillnot be moved into abutting engagement with thelateral edges of this contact surface, but will pass smoothly over thesame to effect properwiping and contacting engagement therewith.

As'shown in Figure 5 'in'which the conductor 28 is shown as insertedintoposition within a modified form of the. terminal assembly structureshown in Figure 1, it will be noted that the. tae;

pered portion 24 of the plug end 23 of the conductor projects outwardlyfrom one side of the terminal assembly, while the shoulder 28 is movedinto abutting engagementwiththe opposite side of the terminal assembly.In this particular embodiment of the invention, thebase portion 1 ofthespring member 6 is provided with a downwardly'extending tongue member50, correspondin: to the tongue member 33 of Figure 2, which keys thebase 1 against rotation with respect to the insulating supporting plate5. At the same time, instead of a pair of rivets Ill being employed,only a single rivet 52 is provided, which rivet, at its opposite end, isdisposed within a suitably recessed portion 53 of the insulating platemember 54, and is adapted to be provided with a smooth contactingsurface 55 forming .a switch contact surface lying in the plane of thelower surface of the base member 54.

It is obvious that various modifications of the particular manner ofmounting the terminal assembly in position, and of interlocking the basemember and spring member together, may be employed within the scope ofthe present invention, and that the lead-in end of the conductor may beformed in any manner capable of providing the desired spring action andcontacting engage-.

ment. We therefore do not intend to be limited to the exact structureshown and described, but

only as defined by the scope and spirit of the appended claims.

We claim:

1. In combination, a terminal assembly forreceiving a, plug end of aconductor comprising a rigid frame member having a raised bossintermediate its ends, a spring member secured at its ends to said framemember and having an inter, mediate arcuately rounded portion extendingabout said raised boss, and means for preventing movement of one end ofsaid spring member away from the adjacent end of said frame member butproviding for sliding movement longitudinally thereof, whereby the plugend of said conductor may be inserted into the rounded'portion of saidspring member with said boss'enga'ging in,-the lateral surface of saidconductor to hold said conductor in engaged position.

2. In combination, in a terminal assembly of the class described, abase, a rigid frame member, a spring member, means for securing oneendof said frame member and one end of said spring member to said base, aterminal receiving arcu- 'ately curved recess formed in one of saidmembers intermediate the ends of the latter, and interlocking meansconnecting the opposite ends of said members and accommodatinglongitudinal movement of ,the spring member relative to the rigid framemember so as to provide for relative arching movement of theintermediate portions of said members.

3. A terminal assembly of the class described comprising a rigid framerrlember, a spring member disposed in alinement therewith, means at oneend of said members for clamping said members together, there being alongitudinal slot at the other end of one of the members and a part onthe other end of the other member received in said slot for preventingthe ends thereof from separating, the engagement of one end of the slotwith said part serving as means for limiting the arching movement of theintermediate portion of said spring member away from said rigid framemember, and means formed'in the intermediate portions of said membersbetween said clamping means at one end and said slotmeans' at theopposite end defining a conductor-receiving opening.

4. Aterminal assembly comprising an insulat ing base, a rigid framemember and a resilient spring member mounted at one end on saidbase. oneof said members having an arcuate rounded portion intermediate its endsforming between said members a conductor-receiving opening, one of saidmembers having a-longitudinal slot adjacent its free end and the otherofsaid members having a normally projecting tongue adjacent its; 1 freeend engaging in said slot and providing for relative longitudinalmovement of said free ends of said members to accommodate arching of theintermediate portion of said spring member away from said frame member,and means on said tongue comprising oppositelyextending shouldersprojecting over the outer surface ofsaid slotted member and spaced closeto the face of said other member to prevent any substantial amount ofmovement of the free end of the spring member relative to the rigidframe member except to accommodate longitudinal movement ofthe springmember reiatiue to the free end of the frame member when receiving aconductor.

5. A terminal assembly comprising a, base, 'a' I, rigid terminal framemember and a resilient spring member disposed alongside said rigidframe.

. member, said members being apertured adjacent one end' of each,fastening means disposed through said apertures for securing bothofs'aid members to said base,- one of said members having at itsopposite end a normally projecting tongue having a laterally extendinghead section, there. being a longitudinal 'slot'formed in the adjacentend of the other member, said slot-being long enough to provide forinsertion of the-head section of said tongue throughsa id slot beforesaid fastening means has been inserted insaid apertures to fasten saidmembers to the base," and said head section lying against the outer faceof, the slotted end so as to hold the slotted member closely adiacentthe'face of the other member, the length of saidslot also beingsuflicient to ac- 1 commodate longitudinal movement/of the spring memberrelative to the rigid member "while the contact between the head'section of said tongue serves to hold the spring member closelyadjacent to the face of said rigid frame member, and

means on at least one of said members serving asconductor-receivingmeans intermediate the ends of said member and arranged so that thespring member resiliently holds the conductor in position.

boss having a pair of protuberances'on the other member facing inwardlytowardsaid recess to engage and yieldingly hold a conductor in saidcurved section.

' HAROLD CATRON.

RALPH L. DASHNER. MARION W. 1403315.,

6. A terminal assembly comprising a pair of I members one of which isresilient,'means rigidly

